Annihilator (Salzburg - Rock Haus - 01.05.02)
Written by: Aleš Podbrežnik
Yeah, my favorite Thrash band is touring again. "RockHaus" is a small place built for, let us say, about 700 people. But only less than hundred were present. Shame on you dear Austrians, you've got five Annihilator gigs that were included in tour, but you're not worth too get even one.
Well, Debase were the first to warm up the crowd. They say that they are playing "New Wave of Swedish Heavy Metal". A kind of new invention? I don't know, or maybe I just can't get it. They sounded like some kind of Thrash. Mid-tempo songs without any guitar solos at all, but nice riffing. With rough vocals that gives their music some deeper dimension. But nothing new or unheard. Basic and most important work was done by rhythm section. So we can say that they made some groove. Well done gig and the crowd enjoyed it very much. I'm sure that Debase didn't say the last word.
Seven Witches were up next. Totally different approach in music style. We can say "old school Speed Metal". Band of well experienced four guys with Jack Frost in command opened their gig with "Metal Tyrant". In this line-up they played together for the fourth time. So the whole set list contained almost exclusively "Xiled To Infinity And One" tracks. Only "Kamelot" from their "City Of Souls" release was done. Jack was "wild and dangerous", headbanging all the time during gig. Showing no remorse to his wah-wah effect when played all solos. And this I didn't like much. But the band as whole raised the temperature in the hall real high. Joey Vera and Brian Craig are making a perfect rhythm section that was demonstrating some killer bridges and hellish speed on a double bass. Wade did his part excellent. He did all screams without any problems. He was even to good. So good that on the next day Seven Witches didn't play in Graz. Jack gave the apologize to the audience in Graz, that Wade is ill and is spitting some blood. A real nightmare for the band. So we had extreme luck that we went to Salzburg.
We were waiting for the last band to step out at 10:30 p.m. "Los Annihilatores" began with "Murder" in same line-up as on their latest release "Waking The Fury". I beg your pardon, with what? Yes, "Murder". We went through this weak beginning. Nevermind, after that they stroke with what was expected. "Ultra - Motion". Jeff included beside mentioned "Remains" track in set list also more songs from "Refresh The Demon"and "King Of The Kill" due to their new re-release.
Sound was perfect, nobody made a mistake. We anticipated another band's great performance. The crowd made some noise, but what can you expect from less than hundred people. Anyway the band didn't care about that and put all energy into show. I was interested in Curran Murphy. He fits perfectly into Annihilator line-up. A young guy full of fresh ideas and energy, made a great riffing and was real alive during the show.
What about little Cherokee? He's still a real science - fiction to me and he confirmed that again. Funny "Nike" clothes he wore was the only thing that made me a little sick, but that has nothing to do with music at all. He was prepared for the kill again. I always asked myself when watching Mr. Waters: "How can be someone so relaxed and cool to put himself a hundred percent in his work?" Again a marvelous job from Jeff. "Striker", you should listen to this song live, it's an absolute killer.
Annihilator's gig lasted for a little less than two hours. A cool long set list and this gig was something completely different if we compare their 80 minutes gigs on previous tour with Nevermore. I just didn't understand why the "RockHaus" was so empty. Maybe due to five announced gigs in Austria. It was 00:30 a.m. early in the morning, when the last tunes of the band faded away. They finished with "Shallow Grave". A track was done almost as a copy of live version that is included as bonus track on "Waking The Fury" album.
We had time after the show so we waited for Annihilator guys to come out of backstage. Meanwhile we talked with guys from Seven Witches. Jack is a great person. He is joking all the time and you can talk to him about everything you want. He explained us the way he was kicked out of Savatage by Jon Oliva and how unpleasant he feels about it. But after all he is happy, finding his own freedom in Seven Witches. We could talk all night long, but the tour bus was waiting. So at 3:00 a.m. we turned our car back home. As I heard from a friend that visited Annihilator's gig next day in Graz, Jeff said to him, that Annihilator are making some plans for further European gigs in September. I'm already there.
| set list "Debase":
1. Pleasuredome
2. Domination
3. Black Ceasar
4. Star Wars
5. Come Out
6. You Will Follow Me
7. Candyman Messiah
| set list "Seven Witches":
1. Metal Tyrant
2. Incubus
3. Anger's Door
4. The Answer
5. Salvation
6. Kamelot
7. Eyes Of An Angel
8. Pain
9. Warmth Of Winter
10. Xilled To InInfinity And One
11. See You In Hell
| set list "Annihilator":
1. taped intro
------------------------------------
2. Murder
3. Ultra Motion
4. The Box
5. Denied
6. The Blackest Day
7. King Of The Kill
8. Torn
9. drum solo
10. My Precious Lunatic Asylum
11. Set The Worl On Fire
12. I Am In Command
13. Refresh The Demon
14. Syn. Kill 1
15. Never Neverland
16. Striker
17. Bliss
18. Phantasmagoria
-------------------------- 1st encore
19. Crystal Ann
20. Alison Hell
--------------------------- 2nd encore
21. Shallow Grave | |
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